March 2019 meeting. For real!

The local meteorologists have reassured us: we SHOULD have good weather Saturday! Many thanks to KaXFAN Tim Keltner, we ALSO have a place to meet, after losing our longtime home at The Writers Place in Kansas City, MO.

Basic facts about the meeting:

Where: in the community room at the Natural Grocers at 13335 Shawnee Mission Pkwy, Shawnee, KS
When: March 16, 2019
Hours: we need to start the meeting at 5:00 p.m. and end at 8:30.
Program: "The best and Worst of Last Year's SF/Fantasy/Horror TV, a discussion led by Carol Doms and Ken Keller.

Don't forget your cash or your checkbook!

Remember also that the March meeting is our annual Fiscal Meeting. That means it's time to pay dues, if you want to be a member of KaCSFFS. The new dues structure, approved last year, is $36 for a regular membership, or $60 for a combined membership to BOTH ConQuesT 50 and KaCSFFS. That's:
$36 - KaCSFFS only
$60 - KaCSFFS plus ConQuesT 50
Note: the PayPal button on the website has been disabled pending an update. It was still charging the old amount. We apologize for the inconvenience!

The location-search continues
The search for a new place to meet more regularly continues. Director David Means and several other Board members have viewed, considered, and attempted to book several different places, but so far we haven't found a place that is available on our regular meeting night, that we can afford. 

If you know of any possibilities--preferably located near the center of the Kansas City Metro area--please contact us! Come to the March meeting, or reach out directly to David or any of the Board of Directors, or use the KaCSFFS email. Thanks for any help you can give us!

This also is the first month for candidates to self-nominate to be officers on the KaCSFFS Board. We're looking for candidates for all offices: Director, Secretary, Treasurer, Communications Officer, and Quartermaster.

Roasts and Toasts for 2018 sf/f/horror TV
Our annual review and discussion of the best and worst shows in our speculative genres that came to television in 2018 will be the topic of a lively discussion, led by Carol Doms and Ken Keller. This annual favorite program is back by popular demand. We hope you can join us, and weigh in with your opinions.

Carol Doms and Ken Keller introduce their discussion of 2017's Best and Worst in SF/Fantasy/Horror TV Shows at the January 20, 2018 meeting.

IMAGES: The Natural Grocers Logo is from the parent company's Facebook Page. We are grateful to the European Parliament's post, "Economic governance explained," for the photo of the empty cash box used in our "Treasury Rejuvenation Month" graphic, assembled by Jan S. Gephardt. The photo of Carol Doms and Ken Keller is by Jan S. Gephardt, and was taken with their permission for KaCSFFS publicity purposes during last year's "Best and Worst on TV" program, which they also hosted.

March meeting is a call to arms--Rayguns, that is.

What: Monthly KaCSFFS Meeting (Annual "Fiscal" meeting)
When: March 17, 2018, 6:00 set-up, 7:00 brief business meeting and discussion of collections
Where: The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111
Food theme: Martian-inspired food, OR Irish food (after all, it's ALSO St. Patrick's Day!)

Rayguns at the ready?

Come on, admit it. You probably have a raygun or two in your closet . . . if not proudly mounted over your fireplace!

If so, Bring it. Come prepared to share a short history and demonstrate the lights, sound-effects, etc., or your sfnal arsenal, be they rayguns a la Marvin, Barsoomian swords, or other weapons.

In a spirit of inclusion, of course, we're also open to Gravity Hammers, Noisy Crickets, Bat'leths, Reverberating Carbonizers, Jaffa Staffs, Blasters, Phasers, Light-Sabers, Series 4 De-Atomizers, or any other science-fictional dealers of pseudo-destruction. We want to see them ALL!

Bring out your SWAG!
We're fans. Of course we have collections of fun stuff--be it fun Stuff We All Get, or more exclusive collectibles. March is the month of Mars, so in honor of Marvin the Martian (and all the other Martian references throughout our favorite genres) please bring some Martian-themed show-and-tell items.

Even if you're light on laser weapons, if you have any Martian SWAG to share, bring it on! The program this month is a chance to wander around the displays, talk with fellow collectors, and appreciate the creative range of our favorite genres. The more the merrier!

What's an "Annual Fiscal Meeting"?
It's what you think it is. Eventually, it's time to pay our dues--and this month is it, if you want to be able to vote for (or become) new (or renewing) officers next month. Or vote for any important issues that come up from time to time.

For example, a quorum of our dues-paid members voted in December 2017 to adopt new Bylaws, which, among other things, changed our dues structure. Current dues are now $36 per year for a regular "General" membership, or $60 per year for a regular membership plus a full-weekend membership for ConQuesT, our annual science fiction convention.

ConQuesT will be held, as it is every year, on Memorial Day Weekend, May 25-27, 2018, at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, Kansas City, MO. A regular weekend adult membership for this year's convention is currently $50, so the dues option offers a considerable discount for fans who live close enough to benefit from monthly meeting programs.

Speaking of Officers
KaCSFFS officers must be General or Life Members in good standing (yes, that means they, too, must pay their dues). The voting positions on the Executive Board are:

• Director 
• Treasurer 
• Secretary 
• Communications Officer 
• Quartermaster 
• Program Director

They must self-nominate, and if elected (or if they are unopposed) they will serve for one year. Voting (if necessary) and induction of new officers is done at the April "Annual" meeting. If any of these offices interests you, please feel free to come, pay dues, and nominate yourself for your chosen office at the March meeting!

IMAGES: Many thanks to CG Vector for the Marvin the Martian character image! The ConQuesT header image is from our ConQuesT convention website. 

It's picnic time! Saturday June 17, 2017

When: Saturday, June 17, 2017--Setup begins at 5:30 p.m.; plan to eat 6:30-7:00 p.m.
Where: The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64111
Bring: Beverage of your choice, plus a side dish to share (members can sign up on the KaXFEN email list!)

It's the Annual KaCSFFS Picnic
Our traditional evening of gathering to share food, play tabletop games and eat or distribute all the ConQuesT Con Suite leftovers while they're still fresh is upon us!

Join us for an indoor-outdoor event that accommodates all abilities and respiratory capabilities. KaCSFFS provides hotdogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers, condiments, ConQuesT Con Suite leftovers, and table service. Please bring your own beverages and a side dish to share (there's a sign-up on the KaXFEN email list for members).

But WAIT! There's more!
Reviewers' Reading Circle Summer Selection

We'll kick off our new summer Reviewers' Reading Circle selection, Stupid Humans, by V. R. Craft. This is the program's first humorous selection.

What's it about? "What if all the intelligent humans abandoned Earth... and we're what's left? Samantha is a journalist who travels through the wormhole to New Atlantis and discovers that embarrassing reality when she meets the People, humanity's more intelligent--and smugly superior--distant relatives. Unfortunately, thanks to humanity's penchant for fighting, a Human/People conflict is brewing. She could almost forget she's not on Earth, except the People have tails and don't slap idiot warning labels on everything . . . "

KaCSFFS' Reviewers' Reading Circle program offers free downloadable copies of current books by lesser-known and emerging authors, available to dues-paid KaCSFFS members via links provided through the email KaXFEN list. Members may download the selection as a review copy during the two-month period following the first announcement. Read some or all of it, and if you choose, write a short review.

At the July 15, 2017 meeting, we'll have a live author interview with V. R. Craft via Skype or FaceTime, to discuss the book and answer questions. The selection will remain available through our August meeting.

KantCon presentation

There also will be a presentation about KantCon, the annual gaming convention, to be held July 14-16, 2017, in Overland Park, KS. It features lots of different gaming possibilities and a costume contest.

For more information, please come to our presentation at the meeting! You can also learn more at their website. Get some fun glimpses of their events at the KantCon gallery.

Dare we mention it? Membership cards!
As promised, new, 2017-18 KaCSFFS membership cards will be available for all dues-paid members, on a laminate-while-you-wait basis. Show your card for a discount at Prospero's Books!

IMAGES: The "KaCSFFS Picnic" header was made for this event by Jan S. Gephardt, based on a photo taken in 2015 by Jan S. Gephardt. The Stupid Humans header is from V. R. Craft's Stellar Sarcasm website, the Stupid Humans book cover image is from Amazon, and the KantCon header and gaming dragon logo are from their website. Many thanks to all!

Author interview, Movie peek, and Anatomy of a great party: Don't miss the March meeting!

What: Monthly KaCSFFS Meeting
When: Saturday, March 18, 2017, 6:00 p.m.
Where: The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111
Food Theme: Favorite "Room Party" food or drink

It's that time of year again . . . 

Don't forget to bring money for your annual dues ($25 cash or check; there's an additional $2 fee if you use a charge card). Only dues-paid members can vote on important club decisions.

One of these important decisions is who will be on next year's Board of Directors: March is also a month for self-nominations to the Board. If you think you'd be a good KaCSFFS Director, Secretary, Treasurer, or Communications Officer, March is the month to step up and say so. Elections will be held in April.

Author Interview with P.R. Adams

We'll kick off the evening's program with a live author interview. Whether or not you've had a chance yet to read this month's Reviewers' Reading Circle selection, Momentary Stasis, we hope you'll enjoy listening to our interview with its author, P. R. Adams. 

Momentary Stasis is a "hard sf" thriller set in a universe where humans have used alien technology to plant colonies beyond our Solar System. It tells the story of a US Army Special Forces sergeant who must down a rogue agent. But he and his partner discover that some of the biggest “power players” may or may not care whether humanity survives.

KaCSFFS is proud to offer a forum for emerging authors in search of a broader audience. The Reviewers' Reading Circle is designed to compliment our track record of inviting new, promising talent to be our guests at our annual ConQuesT sf convention--set this year for Memorial Day weekend, May 26-28, 2017 at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center.

NEW! Movie Trailer and announcement!
Kansas City native Alex Haughey's new feature film Prodigy will be screened at the Kansas City Film Fest, April 5-9 at the Cinemark Palace on the Plaza--and we'll be showing a trailer for it after our author interview. We'll have more information then, about the movie and its screening times/dates (main screening time: Saturday 4/8/17 at 10:00 p.m.).

Get your Room Party on!

Science fiction convention "season" in our region is heating up--and one of the classic pleasures of sf cons is the room parties. 

But all room parties are not created equal. Join Earline Beebe as she takes a break from accepting dues to round out our evening by leading a discussion about the good, better, and best practices for an excellent room party. 

What are the hallmarks of a good party? Is it possible to have a fun room party without spending a fortune? Whether you're a veteran of many conventions or brand new to the "con circuit," we hope you'll bring your own best ideas. You can help stimulate the conversation by bringing examples of great room party food ideas!

What are some common mistakes to avoid? It's just as important to know about room-party-goers' pet peeves. What are some of the fastest way to ruin a party, and how can they be avoided?

No discussion of room parties would be complete, however without telling a few tales. What are some of your favorite room party STORIES? Let's close out the evening with some good laughs over the best room party stories you can bring!

IMAGES: We are grateful to the European Parliament's post, "Economic governance explained," for the photo of the empty cash box used in our "Treasury Rejuvenation Month" graphic. Many thanks to author P.R. Adams for the cover image of Momentary Stasis. The Prodigy header is from the movie's Facebook Page. The photo of the party balloons is courtesy of 24 Yes Daily.

Combined agenda for major meeting September 17, 2016

Monthly KaCSFFS Meeting
Combined with ConQuesT meeting
Where: The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania, Kansas City, MO 64111
When: Saturday, September 17, 2016
4:00 ConQuesT meeting--ALL Members welcome! 
Dinner Break: 6-7:00 p.m. 
Business Meeting: 7-7:30 at the latest
Break-out Sessions: 7-9:00 p.m.

Break-out Sessions
Star Trek 50th Anniversary Discussion led by Carol Doms on the main floor.

Live Interview via Skype with Keith Shaw, Discussion led by Jan S. Gephardt, regarding Shaw's Neworld Papers books, The Historian's Tale and The Warrior's Tale. Please join us in the Library for this program.

Dues-paid members will ALL get their Membership Cards at this meeting. We will had out cards to all members in attendance, then mail cards to all other members. Earline Beebe will coordinate this group effort, working from her master roster. We'll set up on the Mezzanine for this session.

Finally, please bring your board games or tabletop games, to share in the upper floor lobby.

IMAGES: Many thanks to the ConQuesT website for the ConQuesT 48 logo, and to iPulpfiction for the Historian's Tale cover.

Three Contested Elections April 19!

Don't Miss the April Meeting!

What: Annual KaCSFFS Officer Elections Meeting
Where: The Writers Place,

3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111

When: April 19, 2014

Board of Directors Meeting: 5:30 p.m. (open to all members)

Monthly Business Meeting: 7:00 p.m.

It's been a while since we had this many contested elections! Unfortunately, the Communications Officer was moving a household from California to Texas and Kansas City when she otherwise would have been posting an Absentee Ballot, and I apologize!

Thus, the ONLY way to vote is to come in person, and be a dues-paid member!

You still may pay for your membership in person at the meeting, or you may purchase your membership online, using the button at right.  Current President Ty Gephardt will be there with pre-printed membership cards for those who have already paid their membership fees in time to get on the Treasurer's list. He also will have blank cards to fill out, and the laminating machine at the meeting.

And the Nominees Are . . . 

For President of KaCSFFS, April 2014-April 2015: 

Ty Gephardt*, incumbent since 2013

Ken Keller, challenger (founder and previously a Director [when it was called that])

For Secretary of KaCSFFS, April 2014-April 2015:

Ty Gephardt*

Keri O'Brien

*Please note the Bylaws specifically prohibit a person from holding more than one office on the Board of Directors at the same time.  If Ty is elected to one office, he must remove himself from the race for the other office.

For Treasurer of KaCSFFS, April 2014-April 2015:

Cindy Norton, incumbent since 2009

Earline "Cricket" Beebe, (also previously a Treasurer)  

Two other nominees are running unopposed:

For Communications Officer of KaCSFFS, April 2014-April 2015:

Jan S. Gephardt, incumbent since 2011

For Chairperson of ConQuesT 46 (the 2015 convention), to serve on the Board of Directors April 2014-April 2015:

Kristina Hiner, currently vice-chair of the 2014 convention. 

Members, the fate of KaCSFFS is in your hands!

Come vote on Saturday!

KaCSFFS Meeting March 16, 2013

Of Little Green Men and other Matters

March is the Month of Mars

(Our President Diana Bailey contributed a meditation upon the month):

March is named for Mars, the Roman God
of War and for the planet Mars. That leads naturally to thinking about little green men from Mars and maybe even leprechauns. 

Now, I am not suggesting that leprechauns came from Mars or that they are an alien race or anything. But don't you think that celebrating all these little green men in March is more than a mere accident? I wonder what type of green card they carry with them. 

What: KaCSFFS Monthly Meeting

When: Saturday, March 16, 2013, at 6:30 p.m. (Board meets 5:30)

Where: The Writers Place, 3607 Pennsylvania Ave., Kansas City, MO 64111

Food Fit for Little Green Men and Friends?

Food theme for the Month: Show us what you should feed these little green men that may or may not be from Mars? Categories will be: 

Best Creative Dish

 Food that Best Fits the Theme (that is, Mars, Martians, or Leprechauns)

Best Green Food

Decision 2013 Looms!

We need additional self-nominations for the Executive Board.  As you may know, KaCSFFS Board Members must nominate themselves.  Currently we have the following self-nominations from February:

President: Cindy Norton (contingent upon Diana Bailey's self-nomination for Treasurer)

Treasurer: (none so far)

Secretary: (none so far)

Communications Officer: Jan S. Gephardt

ConQuesT Con Chair: Jesi Pershing

Balloting will be held online via Absentee Ballot, or in person at the April Meeting (dues-paid members may vote ONCE, by either means).

This is Membership Month!

Diana Bailey and Cindy Norton processed memberships at the February meeting.

If you have not paid your 2013 membership dues, your membership expires this month.  

If you allow your membership to expire, you will stop receiving information via the KAXFEN Yahoo Group, and you will no longer be eligible to vote on official KaCSFFS business questions, elections, etc.

You also will no longer continue to receive discounts with our cooperating merchants, just when we have gotten a new one!  See below!

Renew online (see PayPal button at right on this blog), or via cash or check (made payable to KaCSFFS) at the meeting.  Cindy and Diana, our Membership Mavens, will make sure you receive a laminated membership card when you pay your dues.

Return of a Popular Panel

Ken Keller and  associates will present a panel discussion of Kansas City's science fiction and fantasy authors.  There have been a lot of them, and the stories are often colorful.

Food Bank Items and Pet Food Coupons

We will also be doing the quarterly collection of canned and dry goods for food banks, along with a new pet food coupon exchange for some members who have four-legged furry family members.

Fund-Raiser for Jerry Gelb

Jerry Gelb was the Special Guest at ConQuesT a few years ago (2009).  You may remember his performances on blues harp at RoomCon on two occasions, as well.

We have learned that Jerry is in need of surgery to relieve pressure on his spine, which is causing random paralysis, among other issues. A fundraiser has been started to help him cover the expenses (and time off afterward). There will be a get well card to sign and a jar for donations. 

KaCSFFS Discounts Expand!

Sosa's 39th Street Diner is our newest source of discounts in midtown Kansas City! All card carrying KaCSFFS members in good standing need only show their membership card to receive  a 10% discount!

THANKS FOR THE IMAGES: We first used the beautiful image of Mars (titled "mars-planet-water-nasa") for the March 2011 meeting preview.  The webpage from which we retrieved it is no longer available, and neither TinEye nor a manual search revealed the original source.  It shall have to remain as mysterious as the Red Planet itself, at least for now.  The Ballot Box image is from the blog, “The Nev Filter." The photo of Diana and Cindy is by Jan S. Gephardt, and may be used without alteration for the price of a link back and attribution.  The Food Bank Graphic is from the New Haven Food Bank web page. The photo of the banner in front of Sosa's is from the Midtown KC Post.
-->

April Meeting Follow-up

Sherri Dean Conquers All

With her Alien Eggs and her secretarial prowess, Sherri Dean
proved a hit with Kaxfen at the April meeting.

Our new Secretary is Sherri Dean. She leaped right into the job immediately, and began taking notes.

She also brought the winning *coughs -only!- * entry for the Eggceptional Eggcellence Awards with her very creative Alien Eggs entry in the "Cre-egg-tive Minds at Play" category.

Her Alien Eggs were concocted from dried figs, almonds and almond paste, and orange marmelade. They were tasty, as well as wild-looking!

Still Tweaking Bylaws till the End

More amendments were made
to the provisional draft of the
KaCSFFS Bylaws Saturday.

Several Kaxfen brought up questions and proposed adjustments to the provisional draft of the KaCSFFS Bylaws that had been submitted for examination at the March meeting by the Bylaws Committee. The process of bringing the club's bylaws into compliance with the Missouri requirements for a 501(c)3 corporation, begun more than a year and a half ago, continues.

The discussion session at the meeting Saturday night became rather lively at times, as the merits of various provisions were discussed. Several sharp-eyed persons also helpfully pointed out typos for correction.

At the end of the discussion, a majority of the quorum present voted to provisionally approve the Bylaws draft, as amended. The new version was to be posted as a PDF in the file "2012 Bylaws" on the KAXFEN Yahoo Group. It is now available there, for review by all interested members who have paid their dues and thereby have voting privileges.

A final vote to ratify this version of the Bylaws will be taken at the May 19 meeting. If it is not approved, the amendment process will continue.  Passage of an acceptable set of Bylaws is an important part of being approved for our 501(c)3 status, so this is an important issue for the club.

Do You Have Your Membership Card?
President Diana Bailey opened the meeting Saturday by reading aloud the names of persons who had not picked up their new membership cards.

Why is it so important to have your membership card? For one thing, it entitles you to a growing array of discounts!

First of all, there's your ConQuesT membership! The last chance to buy a membership in person with the club discount was the April 21 meeting, but you have until May 15 to buy it online! Check the instructions on the KAXFEN Yahoo Group for how to get the discount.

39th St. Minsky's now
offers us a discount!

We just learned on Saturday that Kaxfen now can get  a 10% discount at the 39th Street Minsky's Pizza! The discount is good anytime, but if you plan a run over there after a meeting, they request that you call ahead so they can be ready.

You also can get discounts at these other fine local merchants:

The Marrakech Cafe
Two Prospero's Bookstores locations
Aquarius books and gifts
Vulcan's Forge fine jewelry

IMAGE CREDITS: The photo of Sherri Dean's Alien Eggs is by Jan S. Gephardt. The photo of Sherri Dean is from her Facebook page. The "Bylaws Book" image is from the A.J. Whittenberg Elementary School of Engineering "ByLaws/Standing Rules" page. The ConQuesT 43 logo/lettering is from the ConQuesT website. The photo of 39th Street Minsky's is courtesy of Yelp! Many thanks to all!